What is fostering?

Children and young people need foster families for a variety of reasons.  Parents might ask for help looking after their family because they are ill or facing temporary difficulties.  At other times child protection agencies suspect children are being neglected or abused and remove them from their families for their own safety.  Some children are disabled and need either full time care or short breaks with a carer.  Some, however, may go on to a permanent alternative family through permanence fostering.

For many of the children placed in foster care, it is a temporary arrangement and they will eventually return to their own homes. 

Most children are in need of warmth, patience and understanding at a time of stress and uncertainty and by taking a child into your home at this difficult time you can have a huge impact on their lives.

Fostering is just one of the ways you can support children and young people in Northamptonshire and can be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.

A career in fostering changes lives!

• Who can foster?
  We welcome applications from people from a wide variety of backgrounds. You need to take into account your own circumstances.
  
  
• What support is provided to Foster Carers?
  Foster Carers are supported in a variety of ways from training and development to support groups.
  
  
• Fostering - the options
  There are many ways you can help support and care for local children.
  
  
• Fostering Open Evenings
  Open Evenings give you the chance to get more information about fostering so that you can make an informed decision.
  
  
• How do I become a Foster Carer?
  The process to become a Foster Carer is explained here.
  
  
• Can anybody find me somebody to love?
  Our ‘Somebody To Love’ campaign is dedicated to finding foster carers and adoptive parents for Black and Minority Ethnic children.
  
  
• Contact Us
  Contact details for the Fostering Team.
  
  
• Private fostering
  When a child or young person under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) is looked after for 28 days or more by someone who is not a close relative, guardian or person with parental responsibility.